These are awesome recordings that do an excellent job of demonstrating all that Pigpen contributed to the early sound and rhythm of the band. This is not to take anything away from the rest of the rhythm section or Bobby but simply to encourage folks to pay extra attention to a performer whose contributions are rarely memorialized so perfectly as they are. RIP

[first posted 2009; edited to correct egregious spelling mistakes Feb 2015]

"Excerpt 4 (tracks 20-21) seems to be from an unknown '69 show, but it's too short to tell."

I thought I read someone identifying the date of this one, but can't find it now. Anyone remember?

I don't post on here all that often. I generally just sit on the sidelines, soak up the tunes and enjoy everyone else's take. But I had to post here, because this is my favorite compilation on the Archive. I constantly find myself coming back and listening to it from beginning to end, as if it was one seamless show. Do yourself a favor and give it a whirl. The way that it weaves in and out of all the Crypticals with so many choice cuts in between is nothing short of amazing. I hope they never take this one down, because it's almost too good to be true.

regarding the last few numbers here - #36-41 - LiA's blog on this entire entry has it down for June '68 - perhaps a Carousel show from early in the month? Here's the page link for this entire collection: http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2010/06/some-1968-redates.html - scroll down to the Feb. 1 2012 comment. Shame about that Hurts Me Too having so much cut out from the beginning, as well as cuts in the Dark Star and Lovelight, but that Star is so warm and velvety-rich '68, it's definitely worth hearing.

with or without track info.

Just great stuff here.They never stop. Just when we think we have heard it all. out comes something like this here. I give it 5 due to mystery and the quality

That #31 Stephen just chugs along relentlessly until the boys feel it's time to give Cryptical a turn, and that transition between the two is, in and of itself, music to my ears. I'm really digging this compilation. 68, my favorite year, carries some of the best hidden gems of all.

Holy Shit!!

At about 6:50 in track 13 -- (post-Alligator) Jam -- the boys start to go into a noticeable GDTRFB coda jam. I've listened to most of what's on here for 66-68, and I don't recall them having played either the song or any hints of it up until now. Is it possible that this is the debut of that phrase?

Following up on Jim F's review below....

Disc 1 (excerpt 1, tracks 1-11) is an unknown show from May/early June '68 at the Carousel.
(This also circulates separately as "May '68", and I think it's also the extra filler on one of the 8/23/68 copies here.)

Disc 2 - excerpt 2 (tracks 12-13) is from 2/15/69.
Excerpt 3 (tracks 14-19) is an alternate mix of 2/3/68.
Excerpt 4 (tracks 20-21) seems to be from an unknown '69 show, but it's too short to tell.

Disc 3 (excerpt 5, tracks 22-30) is 8-21-68.
(I'm surprised the 'Mystery Reels' compilers didn't notice this one - but there has been some confusion in the past over this August run, some dates being mixed up - especially 8/22, where old tapes were simply 8/24 rearranged...)

Disc 4 - excerpts 6 (tracks 31-35) and 7 (tracks 36-41) are both from June '68. The Stephens are practically identical to the Stephen on 6/14/68. (What little we can hear of the first Stephen on disc 1 seems to come from a little earlier in the song's development, since the final jam isn't worked out.)
Since the Dead were clearly taping their June '68 shows (part of the 6/14/68 sbd was discovered & released on a GD bonus disc), it's a shame so little survives, but at least we have these fascinating pieces.

Weren't those master tapes erased; because the reels were used again? In fact they were used to record that FILLMORE WEST 69 10 CD box set according to the liner notes in that package.

Some of these clips can be used as filler on other disks...

Whichever version of St.Stephen this is, it is excellent!

Kind of a cleaner version of 6/14/68

The St.Stephen who's length is 8:20 is damn good too.

The only thing invasive here is bootleg43's attitude. I don't think anybody was trying to "be groovy" with the track names. Don't get mad at everybody else because you made assumptions that weren't true. The people you are insulting are probably the same people who are responsible for half of your Dead collection. Bad form, dude. Anyway, this is sweet stuff here. Get it. Sounds generally great and the performances are plain old magnificent Dead magic.

I was nosing around this site, looking for anything new which I don't already have on analog tape or on download, and I came upon this date. Then I noticed something called "Thirteen Jams". Then I read the reviews and just KNEW I had stumbled onto something new. But alas... WRONG! For those of you who believe you are finding some new uncharted gem in the Thirteen Jams please be fore-warned and understand it is simply part of New Potato Caboose... Phil's Bass solo until the end... why do we make up new names for things which do not need new names? The performance is great but there is nothing new here along the lines of The Seven or The Eleven (which is what calling this The 13's IMPLIES) Must we really allow lying hypocritical thinking and communication to invade our site? Quit trying to be groovy by creating new names and call a song by it's proper ID. Do not expect anything other than Phil's solo-to-the-end-of-the-song just like on Vault 2. It's similar to idiots who believe that because they recorded the show it is a great sound. Most people's recordings are not the best one out there and by creating new names for the same old things we only add confusion to a mess which has been nicely sorted out.

the alligator>drums>jam>caution segment is identical to the filler that comes with the 8.23.68 show archived here, which itself is described as 'thought to be from 8/29/68'. the date is a mystery which ought to be solved, because this alligator-caution jam is among the 2 or 3 best of all time, and the fact that it is cut off before it ends can only be described as a crime against God.

I found some info on these shows by listening to other similar shows and matching up unique aspects.

The #Drums>post alligator jam/ is 2/15/69.

The Cryptical>other one show with the early lyrics is 2/3/68, I believe.

The Cryptical>>>Schoolgirl show, also with eleven and others is actually 8/21/68 (bits of 8/21+22 have been circulating with confusing dates for a while-I think 8/28 is actually 8/21, but I don't have it yet).

The "return the scratcher" show and the NPC>"thirteens jam" are the only mystery reels, really, but both have their highlights (esp "thirteens jam" show).
I'm surprised no one else ever caught the mislabels throughout the years.

Unless someone invents a time machine, this is the next best thing to experiencing Captain Trips and all the fantastic music of the 60's. Gotta love those long jams, and these are fantastic recordings. Thanks!